2 Corinthians 11.22-29

Paul writes his second letter to the Corinthians partly to defend himself against the snobbish charges that he does not measure up to other “super-apostles” who have come to town.  He says they may think of him as a fool or as weak, but “The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying,” when he rattles off this list of reasons why even as a weak fool, he is a better servant of Christ.

 Paul has:

–          Far greater labors

–          Far more imprisonments

–          Countless beatings, and often near death 

–          Five times received the forty lashes less one

–          Three times been beaten with rods

–          Once been stoned

–          Three times shipwrecked, a night and a day adrift at sea

–          Been in danger from rivers, robbers, his own people, Gentiles

–          Been In danger in the city, in the wilderness, at sea

–          Been In danger from false brothers

–          Endured toil and hardship, spent many a sleepless night

–          Endured hunger and thirst, often without food

–          Endured cold and exposure

–          Endured daily pressure of anxiety for all the churches 

Wow.  Staying up late at a youth group lock-in doesn’t even qualify on this guy’s list.